Tom Campion (tennis) facts for kids
| Full name | Thomas Spread Campion |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  Ireland |
| Born | 9 September 1860 Lucan, County Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 19 November 1907 (age 47) Celbridge, County Kildare, Ireland |
| Turned pro | 1883 (amateur tour) |
| Retired | 1889 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 60–28 (68.18%) |
| Career titles | 6 |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Wimbledon | 2R (1889) |
| Doubles | |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Wimbledon | QF (1888) |
Thomas Spread Campion (born September 9, 1860 – died November 19, 1907) was a tennis player and doctor from Ireland. He played tennis as an amateur from 1883 to 1889. During his career, he won 6 singles titles. He also reached the quarter-finals in men's doubles at the famous Wimbledon Championships in 1888.
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Tom Campion's Tennis Career
Thomas Campion was born in Lucan, County Dublin, Ireland. This was on September 9, 1860. He started his tennis journey in 1883. His very first tournament was the Dublin University Championships. He played well and won the final against Charles Chaytor.
Tom Campion played at the Wimbledon Championships twice. This was in 1888 and 1889. In the men's singles, he reached the second round in 1889. There, he lost to an English player named Ernest Wool Lewis. He did even better in men's doubles. In 1888, he and his partner Harry Grove made it to the quarter-finals. They were eventually beaten by the famous Renshaw brothers, Ernest Renshaw and William Renshaw.
He also played in other big tournaments of his time. At the Irish Championships in 1886, he reached the quarter-finals. He lost to Willoughby Hamilton there. In 1888, he made it to the quarter-finals at the Northern Championships. He was defeated by Ernest George Meers.
Some of his best wins were in singles tournaments. He won the Derbyshire Championships three times in a row. These matches were played on grass courts from 1886 to 1888. He also won the Dublin University Championships three times. These wins were in 1883, 1885, and 1888. These matches were played on hard asphalt courts. Tom Campion played his last singles tournament at Wimbledon in 1889. He passed away on November 19, 1907, in Celbridge, County Kildare, Ireland, at the age of 47.
Singles Titles and Runner-Up Finishes
Tom Campion played in 13 singles finals during his career. He won 6 of these tournaments. He was the runner-up in the other 7 finals.
He won three titles on grass courts. These were the Derbyshire Championships in 1886, 1887, and 1888. He also won three titles on hard asphalt courts. These were the Dublin University Championships in 1883, 1885, and 1888.
Some of the tournaments where he was a runner-up include:
- The South of Ireland Championships in 1884 and 1885.
- The County Dublin Championships in 1887.
- The Dublin University Championships in 1887.
- The Leicester Open Lawn Tennis Tournament in 1887.
- The Fitzwilliam Club Championships in 1888 and 1889.
Beyond the Court: Tom's Other Career
Besides being a tennis player, Tom Campion was also a doctor. He studied medicine at Trinity College Dublin. After finishing his studies, he became a licensed doctor in 1887. He was also a member of important medical groups. These included the Royal Academy of Medicine and the British Medical Association.
Later, Tom worked as a surgeon on large ships. He worked for several shipping companies. These included the Orient Line, the Pacific Steam Navigation Company, and the Allan Line Royal Mail Steamers Company.
Tom Campion's Family Life
Tom Campion was the son of Serjeant Campion. His father was a lawyer from County Cork. He was also a professor of English Law. Tom's mother was Martha Campion. Her maiden name was Wilson. She was also from County Cork.
Tom Campion married Jane Irene Lambert Tymons. She was from Dublin. They got married on December 2, 1889. The wedding took place at Saint Matthias's Church.
